Braider mechanism.



F. BENTLEY. BRAIDER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1912.

1,154,964. PatentedSept. 28,1915.

salaries r Wmmw FRANK BElNTLEY, OF WATERIO'WN, MASSACHUSETT3, ASSIGNOR T0 SIMPLEX WIRE & CABLE COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, 'MASSACHU'SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

Application filed March a, 1912.

To an whd m it may concern 7 Be it known that I, FRANK Bnu'rnnr, a citizen of the United States, and res dent of \Vatertown, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Braider Mechanisms, of which the following description, in connection With the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representprovide a construction and relative arrange ment of parts wherein a greatly accelerated speed of operation over previous apparatus of this character is made possible, without breaking the thread, stopping of the ma chine, or other troubles which usually begin as soon as a certain speed is exceeded. This improved result is effected by a novel winding of the thread on the thread holders with a correspondingly modified arrangement of the ratchet crown or other tension control of the thread, whereby the tension on the thread of the two, series of spools is made substantially uniform, and the unwinding of the spools at increased speed is rendered even and practical.

In previous apparatus of this character, so far as known to me, the thread on all the holders has been wound in the same direc tion, so that when these are mounted on the carriers, half of the holders turn on their carrier axes in the same-direction that the carriers'are revolved in their orbital paths, while" the other half turn on their carrier axes in a direction opposite to that of the orbital inovel rent of their carriers. This arrangement greater strain on the thread which. is unwindingfrom the series of spools which af'e rotating in the direction opposite to their direction of revolution, than is placed on the other series, for the reason that with everyrevolution there is a tendency in the former case to wind the thread on the bobbin one turn ii1 opposition to its unwinding mind that the fixed center where ends to put 'a materiall ;ply that the threads of the ,bins shall be so wound that as the fixed ends BRAIDER MlllGI-IANISHL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. as, 1915, Serial No. 681,371.

movement, whereas in the litbbttfl case with the bobbins which turn on then axesym the same directionthat they revolve, there is a tendency to unwind the spool one turn for each revolution. In other words, bearing in ends of the bobbin threads are fast and where the braiding takes place is not a point, but is a braiding column or core, usually tubular (as in braiding insulated cables), it follows that as a bobbin is carried around to the right a complete orbit it will have to giveso the inner up an extent of its thread corresponding to i the length of thread wound on said core and incorporated in the braiding. operation of said complete orbit. Likewise, it follows that another bobbin is carried around to the left a complete orbit it will have to give up the same extent of thread as the first bobbin, because we are supposing that theyare both called upon to braid one complete orbit of travel. If, therefore, this were the entire problem, there would be no difference in tension between the two threads. However, it is not the entire problem. As the two threads of both bobbins are wound in the same direction, the winding of the thread of one bobbin, that traveling toward ti right for instance, around the braiding U419, in the process of braiding, will pull hard on its bobbin and unwind said bobbin at a relatively high speed, whereas the same extent of braiding movement of the other thread winding around the core in the opposite direction, will not pull so hard on its bobbin, but will unwind its bobbin at a relatively less speed. This is because the thread on the leit mcving bobbin is wound in the same direction as on the right-moving bobbin, beiiv wound on the latter so as to pull ard right hand side of the bobbin, and neing wound on the left-moving bobbin so as to pull on the rear or right hand side of said bobbin. The feature of my invention now under discussion, obviates the foregoing unequal tension by providing simrespective bobof'the threads, which are winding around the central core in the braiding operation, pull on their respective bobbins, the pull on all the bobbins, both right-moving and left- "moving, shall be equal, 2'. 6. shall be on the forward'side of all of said bobbins, or shall be on the rear side of all of said bobbins.

and cause spinning, makes entire operation of such apparatus.

For present purposes I do not restrict the winding to one of these in preference to the other, as I am attempting to point out the broad novelty of the invention. The main point is to have the pull of one thread the same as of another thread, by so winding the threads that with oppositely moving bobbins, the unwinding pull of the respective threads will. be all on the forward side of the respective bobbins-or all on the rear side of the respective bobbins, as distinguished from the old way of having the pull of the threads of one set of bobbins on the forward side, and the pull of the other set of bobbins on the rear side. I will nowexplain a further element of the problem and an important feature of my invention.

In addition to the difficulties just noted. and perhaps other causes, the effect of centrifugal force cooperating with the pull of the thread to rotate the bobbin on its axis, is believed to be an important element in the As the bobbins are speeded up in their sinuous orbital path the effect of centrifugal force on one-half the. bobbins being unwound in one direction, and on the other half of the bobbins being unwound in the same direction, while rotating in just the opposite orbital path from the first mentioned bobbins, normally tend to exert an unequal ac tion on the thread of the two sets of bobbins. Further, since the usual thread escapement from the bobbins is in a series of rapid twitching movements, this tendency to retard the unwinding of one set of spools and to accelerate the unwinding of the other set the tightening and loosening impulse on the threads irregular and out of synchronism for the two sets of spools. These objections are obviated in the practice of my invention by winding half of the spools in one direction and the other half in the other direction, with the ratchet formations on the crowns of the spools or other escapement controlling means, likewise oppositely arranged for the two sets, and these two sets of spools are applied to the. respective series of oppositely moving carriers, so that the turning of the thread holder on the carrier axis for each set is in the same direction as the orbital movennant for that series of carriers, thus making the tightening and loosening impulses on the threads of the two sets of spools synchronous, a. l making the tension of the threads on both sets imiform, and permitting greatly increased speed and better work. The invention is herein shown applied to an old and well known braider mechanism, and it is therefore deemed necessary to only show a fragmentary portion of said mechanism, sufficient to illustrate the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a manner well known in form of.

fragmentary elevation. showing portion on; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine. indicating somewhat diagrammatically by sectioned parts a large number of bobbin carriers. so as, to convey more readily the scheme of operation. and showing in plan view two bobbins wound to operate according to my invention.

The usual circular top'plate of the braiding machine is indicated at 10, this'being cut out centrally, as seen at 11, to leave a space for the verti 'al feed of the wire which is to be braided. This plate has the usual pair of tortuous intersecting guide channels 12, 13 extending therearound, each channel having a set of carriers guided therein, several of those in the channel 12 being designated ll. and those in the channel 13 being designated 15, the two series being moved through their respective channels mopposite directions, as is usual. The means for effecting this movement is shown conventionally by the .intermeshing gears 16, mounted on a lower plate support 17, and having upwardly extending horns 18, engaging with pins 19 depending from the carriers, in a this type of appa; ratus. The carriers. which may be of any preferred form, are Shown as provided with usual upstanding arbors or spindles 20 to receive the thread holders, and with stems 21 extending up alongside thereof, on'which lower tension weights 522 and upper pawl carrying weights 23 are mounted to slide freely. These stems may be provided at intermediate points with thread eyes 24:, and with thread guiding passages 25 at their up per extremities. The thread holders may be of any preferred form, those shown having the usual top crowns 26, provided with ratchet formations for engagement with the pawl stops 27 carried by thetop weights 23. It is to be observed that the hear or shoe of the carriers, as seen in secti at 28, is elongated in the direction of the channel. so that each carrier with its thread guiding stem is turned in accordance with the direction of the channel, the thread guiding stems 21 always being behind the thread spools.

In accordance with my invention, one

half of the spools are wound in one direction and the other half in the other direc tion, the ratchet formations on the crowns 2G, or equivalent escapement control, being correspondingly formed, and the bobbins are placed on the respective arbors 20 of the two oppositely moving sets of crowns, so that preferably the bobbins of each set turn on their axes 20 in giving off the thread in the same direction that the orbital movement of the carriers tends to unwind the same, notwithstanding that half of the car riers have their orbital movement in one direction and the other half in the other direction. Thus, in Fig. l, a bobbin 29 in the channel 12 is winding off its thread from 6 the side opposite the observer, the direction of orbital movement of this bobbin and its for evenness or uniformity of tension. In the old way, both bobbins would have been wound alike, so that the thread of one would leave its bobbin on the side away from the center, and the thread of the other would leave its bobbin on the side toward the center, with a corresponding variation of tension.

It will be observed that the ratchet formations 31, 32 have the stop shoulders thereon facing in opposite direct-ions, corresponding that each is adapted to properly cooperate with its pawl stop. In this way'the orbital movements of both sets of carrierstend to unwind the thread from the spools in like degree, and hence the escapement actions will operate in both sets similarly. Thus, the tension on all the threads i s'rendered substantially uniform, spinning of the spools during unwinding is practically eliminated,

pacity for greatly increased speed, and also in a more even braid, since there' 13 no tend ency to twist the braid as "wouldbe the case I,

if it were produced by an excess of tension in one direction as with the old arrangement and method of-operation. Inuse, the two sets of oppositely wound spools may be distinguished by any suitable conspicuous marking, for instance, the crown ends (when at the top) of one set may be colored differ,- ently from the other set, so that there will be no difiiculty in identifying "the spools with each winding and placing them on the proper carriers. These crown ends or escapelnents are sometimes at the bottom or underneath the bobbins. It has been found that in practice this opposite winding of the two sets ofspools enables themachine to be speeded up from fifteen to thirty per cent. more than hasheretofore been possible, withoutthread breaking or other I troubles which have heretofore resulted ,be-

yond a certain limit of speed. 5 Vhilc there is set forth herein what are believed to be the correct; theory of this into the direction of the thread winding, so

resulting in a more even operation with a 'cacreased speed capacity with the reverse I am not prepared to say given are the only ones thread windings, that the reasons which make the improved arrangement set forth capable of the substantial accelerated speed in operation, of which it has been found capable by actual trial and use, and I therefore desire to cover my improved arrangement, irrespective of and without limitation as to what may be the correct theory of operation.

In order to protect my invention'fully, I claim herein the method of handling the thread as well as the mechanism arranged so to operate.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A braiding machine, comprising two sets of thread holders mounted :for relative movement in opposite orbital directions, with reference to the central braiding column or core around which their threads are braided, means on said thread holders to prevent their rotation in respective nonorbital directions, said means permitting rotation of each thread holder in the same direction as its orbital movement, and means cooperating with said holders for exerting tension on thread unwound therefrom, whereby the unwinding of thread from said holders during erts a substantially uniform tension.

2. A braiding machine, comprising two sets of carriers mounted for movement in opposite directions in intersecting closed tortuous orbits, about thecentral braiding columns or cores around which the threads are braided, thread holders rotatably mounted on each of said carriers, said holders and said carriers having provision for unwind ing to feed the thread out for braiding under tension on said columns, each set being the braiding operation eX- arranged so that the unwinding direction of thread holder rotation is in the same directlon as the orbital movement of its car rier.

8. A; braiding machine, comprising two sets of carriers mounted for movement in intersecting tortuous orbital circuits in opposite directions, thread holders mounted for rotation on each of said carriers, and coiiperative escapement means on said holders and said carriers for intermittently feeding out the thread as required during the braiding, the retarding means on the thread holders for said two sets of carriers facing in opposite directions and the escapement means cooperative therewith being correspondinghz formed to permit the opposite rotation of the thread holders for unwinding in the same direction as their orbital movement.

4. A braiding machine, comprising'two sets of thread holders mounted for orbital movement in opposite directions in braldingrel'atlon, to the central braiding column or core around which the mounted for rotation. on its own aXis in the same direction as its orbital movement. 5; A braiding machine, comprising two sets of thread holders movable inopposite orbital directions about the central braidiiig column or core around which their threads are braided, said holders'and their cooperating mechanism being constructed and arranged to have an unwinding axial movement of all said thread holders in the same direction with reference to their orbital movement, so that one set of holders will have opposite holders.

6. The herein described method of operating a braiding machine, consisting of giving one set of bobbins a right hand wind and giving the other set of bobbins a left ian'd wind, and then performing the braid from that of the other set of thread threads are braided, and each of said holders alsoan unwinding axial movement ing operation by moving said two sets of bobbins in opposite-orbital paths. whereby the unwinding of both sets oi bobbins'takesv place with the same relative axial movement with reference to the orbital direction of movement thereof. I

7. The herein described method of operatiim a braiding machine, consisting of providing two sets of bobbins wound with thread in opposite directions respectively, and, then advancing said two sets of bobbins in the opposite directions around the braiding center to bring a thread pull on the forward side of each bobbin and pull the thread from that side of the bobbin which is toward said braiding center.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

FRANK BENTLEY.

\Vitne'sses:

ALBERT E. DAVIDSON, BETI-IUEL G. ADAMS. 

